My comments about the upcoming "bum simulator"

[davidalangay]

https://davidalangay.wordpress.com/2018/05/19/homelessness-is-no-game/

[76561198835951381]

1. Homeless people want to change their situation and they need our help. We wouldn't dare to make fun of them. However, our hero is nothing like that.

2. The title of the game is NOT Homeless Simulator. It's Bum Simulator. The hero of the game is not a homeless person. He is a bum. It was his choice to lead this sort of life (and the player can affect that if he/she doesn't like it). He even has a home, he just doesn't want to live there.

3. The inspiration for the game comes from our own street observations and conversations. We met a lot of interesting people, many of them positive and even happy about their situation and life choices. You can be angry, but this sort of people simply exist. We just took their stories, exaggerated them and made a world which fits them.

4. Knowing that opinions like yours will appear, we still decided to work on this game. Why? Because it brings attention to a big problem. We're happy that our game (even before the release!) pushed you to write an article which will (hopefully) make some people think. It's a GOOD thing. Knowing that our game pushes people to action makes us even more happy to make it.

[Kegfarms]

Originally posted by davidalangay:

https://davidalangay.wordpress.com/2018/05/19/homelessness-is-no-game/

It's a game. Simple as that. Fiction is fiction and only idiots actually think fiction is like real life.

[davidalangay]

Originally posted by Ragged Games:

1. Homeless people want to change their situation and they need our help. We wouldn't dare to make fun of them. However, our hero is nothing like that.

2. The title of the game is NOT Homeless Simulator. It's Bum Simulator. The hero of the game is not a homeless person. He is a bum. It was his choice to lead this sort of life (and the player can affect that if he/she doesn't like it). He even has a home, he just doesn't want to live there.

3. The inspiration for the game comes from our own street observations and conversations. We met a lot of interesting people, many of them positive and even happy about their situation and life choices. You can be angry, but this sort of people simply exist. We just took their stories, exaggerated them and made a world which fits them.

4. Knowing that opinions like yours will appear, we still decided to work on this game. Why? Because it brings attention to a big problem. We're happy that our game (even before the release!) pushed you to write an article which will (hopefully) make some people think. It's a GOOD thing. Knowing that our game pushes people to action makes us even more happy to make it.

I need to correct you on the term "bum". The term bum is urban slang for a homeless person. Homeless people will ask for (or bum for) change. The term bum is a derogatory term.

Cited sources:

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bum
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/bum? which points to vagrant, which in turn means a homeless person.
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/bum

I do not deny the fact that homelessness, vagrancy and vagabonism exists. In fact, I've been homeless on and off over seven years. Not because of alcoholism (as your game lists as a power) or other forms substance abuse. Not because of laziness, disroderly conduct or violence: I have no police record. I simply lost the ability to earn an income due to the Great Recession during my mature years. No one wants to hire an old man so I make money honestly with what I can. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't and when it doesn't I end up in a shelter with others who just want a hand up, not a hand out.

While I am glad that you did make an effort to talk to those less fortunate members of society, what you came back with is still very inaccurate and lacks both experience and empathy. The big thing that sticks out is the fact the protagonist HAS a home yet is a street person. That makes no sense. He's not a real bum in that case. He sounds more like someone with a mental issue who wishes to cause mischief, but to go down the topic of mental health will stray from the point I'm trying to make here.

Street life is not a game. It's not safe. Those who are on the street (many not by choice I might add: see the reports attached in my blog post) live shorter lives and are at higher risk of both disease and being targeted for acts of crime. Had you coded a game that was an accurate portrayal of street life and homelessness, I would have backed it.

Your game will not promote debate about the homeless issue. It will in fact perpetuate the myth that homelessness and poverty is a joke and something to laugh at, even though you stated that was not your intention.

This is my final comment. I'll let the blog post and the comments contained therein speak for me.

[Kegfarms]

Originally posted by davidalangay:

Originally posted by Ragged Games:

1. Homeless people want to change their situation and they need our help. We wouldn't dare to make fun of them. However, our hero is nothing like that.

2. The title of the game is NOT Homeless Simulator. It's Bum Simulator. The hero of the game is not a homeless person. He is a bum. It was his choice to lead this sort of life (and the player can affect that if he/she doesn't like it). He even has a home, he just doesn't want to live there.

3. The inspiration for the game comes from our own street observations and conversations. We met a lot of interesting people, many of them positive and even happy about their situation and life choices. You can be angry, but this sort of people simply exist. We just took their stories, exaggerated them and made a world which fits them.

4. Knowing that opinions like yours will appear, we still decided to work on this game. Why? Because it brings attention to a big problem. We're happy that our game (even before the release!) pushed you to write an article which will (hopefully) make some people think. It's a GOOD thing. Knowing that our game pushes people to action makes us even more happy to make it.

I need to correct you on the term "bum". The term bum is urban slang for a homeless person. Homeless people will ask for (or bum for) change. The term bum is a derogatory term.

Cited sources:

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bum
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/bum? which points to vagrant, which in turn means a homeless person.
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/bum

I do not deny the fact that homelessness, vagrancy and vagabonism exists. In fact, I've been homeless on and off over seven years. Not because of alcoholism (as your game lists as a power) or other forms substance abuse. Not because of laziness, disroderly conduct or violence: I have no police record. I simply lost the ability to earn an income due to the Great Recession during my mature years. No one wants to hire an old man so I make money honestly with what I can. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't and when it doesn't I end up in a shelter with others who just want a hand up, not a hand out.

While I am glad that you did make an effort to talk to those less fortunate members of society, what you came back with is still very inaccurate and lacks both experience and empathy. The big thing that sticks out is the fact the protagonist HAS a home yet is a street person. That makes no sense. He's not a real bum in that case. He sounds more like someone with a mental issue who wishes to cause mischief, but to go down the topic of mental health will stray from the point I'm trying to make here.

Street life is not a game. It's not safe. Those who are on the street (many not by choice I might add: see the reports attached in my blog post) live shorter lives and are at higher risk of both disease and being targeted for acts of crime. Had you coded a game that was an accurate portrayal of street life and homelessness, I would have backed it.

Your game will not promote debate about the homeless issue. It will in fact perpetuate the myth that homelessness and poverty is a joke and something to laugh at, even though you stated that was not your intention.

This is my final comment. I'll let the blog post and the comments contained therein speak for me.

Vagrant means wandering person, not homeless.

[davidalangay]

Originally posted by Kegfarms:

Vagrant means wandering person, not homeless.

va·grant
ˈvāɡrənt
noun
1.
a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging

synonyms: street person, homeless person, tramp, hobo, drifter, down-and-out, derelict, beggar.

We can quibble until Doomsday about word semantics, or we can get a true understanding of what homelessness is all about and do something constructive that actually helps instead of hurts..

[big weld]

shut up u cheeky ♥♥♥♥

[Kegfarms]

Originally posted by davidalangay:

Originally posted by Kegfarms:

Vagrant means wandering person, not homeless.

va·grant
ˈvāɡrənt
noun
1.
a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging

synonyms: street person, homeless person, tramp, hobo, drifter, down-and-out, derelict, beggar.

We can quibble until Doomsday about word semantics, or we can get a true understanding of what homelessness is all about and do something constructive that actually helps instead of hurts..

Tell me how a fictional video game hurts anything. Does Game of Thrones hurt people born from incestuous relationships too?

[Dean]

Any chance i could give this a test and try please ?

[Mhmmm]

Originally posted by Ragged Games:

4. Knowing that opinions like yours will appear, we still decided to work on this game. Why? Because it brings attention to a big problem. We're happy that our game (even before the release!) pushed you to write an article which will (hopefully) make some people think. It's a GOOD thing. Knowing that our game pushes people to action makes us even more happy to make it.

About 3 years ago me and my mom brought a man from street to our home. He lived with us for more than a year, he eventually found a job and got his own place to live :)

[md99]

Originally posted by davidalangay:

https://davidalangay.wordpress.com/2018/05/19/homelessness-is-no-game/

Nobody cares what you think.

**** off!

[Blasting Off Again!]

Originally posted by davidalangay:

Originally posted by Ragged Games:

1. Homeless people want to change their situation and they need our help. We wouldn't dare to make fun of them. However, our hero is nothing like that.

2. The title of the game is NOT Homeless Simulator. It's Bum Simulator. The hero of the game is not a homeless person. He is a bum. It was his choice to lead this sort of life (and the player can affect that if he/she doesn't like it). He even has a home, he just doesn't want to live there.

3. The inspiration for the game comes from our own street observations and conversations. We met a lot of interesting people, many of them positive and even happy about their situation and life choices. You can be angry, but this sort of people simply exist. We just took their stories, exaggerated them and made a world which fits them.

4. Knowing that opinions like yours will appear, we still decided to work on this game. Why? Because it brings attention to a big problem. We're happy that our game (even before the release!) pushed you to write an article which will (hopefully) make some people think. It's a GOOD thing. Knowing that our game pushes people to action makes us even more happy to make it.

I need to correct you on the term "bum". The term bum is urban slang for a homeless person. Homeless people will ask for (or bum for) change. The term bum is a derogatory term.

Cited sources:

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bum
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/bum? which points to vagrant, which in turn means a homeless person.
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/bum

I do not deny the fact that homelessness, vagrancy and vagabonism exists. In fact, I've been homeless on and off over seven years. Not because of alcoholism (as your game lists as a power) or other forms substance abuse. Not because of laziness, disroderly conduct or violence: I have no police record. I simply lost the ability to earn an income due to the Great Recession during my mature years. No one wants to hire an old man so I make money honestly with what I can. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't and when it doesn't I end up in a shelter with others who just want a hand up, not a hand out.

While I am glad that you did make an effort to talk to those less fortunate members of society, what you came back with is still very inaccurate and lacks both experience and empathy. The big thing that sticks out is the fact the protagonist HAS a home yet is a street person. That makes no sense. He's not a real bum in that case. He sounds more like someone with a mental issue who wishes to cause mischief, but to go down the topic of mental health will stray from the point I'm trying to make here.

Street life is not a game. It's not safe. Those who are on the street (many not by choice I might add: see the reports attached in my blog post) live shorter lives and are at higher risk of both disease and being targeted for acts of crime. Had you coded a game that was an accurate portrayal of street life and homelessness, I would have backed it.

Your game will not promote debate about the homeless issue. It will in fact perpetuate the myth that homelessness and poverty is a joke and something to laugh at, even though you stated that was not your intention.

This is my final comment. I'll let the blog post and the comments contained therein speak for me.

Look, if you want accuracy, look at hobo hard life, or what ever that game is called. This is only going off the people who actually don't WANT TO TRY at life, or don't give a ♥♥♥♥. This is not targeting you, or others like you, only poking fun at the lazy ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ who take the choice of doing nothing about their position that litter the alleyways of the USA.

[Lechuck's Beard]

The title absolutely does make fun of them. It does mean homeless and the OP is correct.

Part of the game description says you have lost it all and ended up on the streets. That translates to me as homeless person.

I like that say you met people in these situations and done research. What did your research consist of? How many years of research? How many people? I get the impression that you possibly did not do any research at all, as had you spent any real time with people in these circumstances, learning their history, events that lead to where they are now etc, you would not have picked that title and the comedy powers etc. Well, not if your intentions where to aid people and highlight a serious thing. Makes zero sense to me.

My line of work means I meet people from all walks of life, many like the character in your game, whom have never ever said they were happy in their situations. If you’re able to really get onboard with these people and strip all the pride back, unravel what’s really going down and get to the nitty gritty, you’ll find yourself truly giving a damn about your fellow human, and in many cases realise that even the most physically able person cannot pick their self up or get out of that situation because of the mental game.

I implore anyone to go sit outside on a busy street and hold a cup out hoping someone will toss them a few coins, especially the developers. Make a small experimental video of this and attach it with your game content clips and pics. Show your true intentions.

Maybe spend a few nights sleeping rough and going without food and water. Post that footage too. Know what im saying? Make an impact guys.

Just to add that I’m not offended or anything like that. I’ve played plenty controversial games and I will check this one out too to see if there is any true intentions here. But I just detect some BS in all of this. It’s a very interesting topic, and the surface has not even been scratched.

[Piss WIzard]

Men from jail; homeless- or Um... if your a thug, you wanna come move in. You're friend can move in too man.

[Kegfarms]

Originally posted by NukSooKow:

The title absolutely does make fun of them. It does mean homeless and the OP is correct.

Part of the game description says you have lost it all and ended up on the streets. That translates to me as homeless person.

I like that say you met people in these situations and done research. What did your research consist of? How many years of research? How many people? I get the impression that you possibly did not do any research at all, as had you spent any real time with people in these circumstances, learning their history, events that lead to where they are now etc, you would not have picked that title and the comedy powers etc. Well, not if your intentions where to aid people and highlight a serious thing. Makes zero sense to me.

My line of work means I meet people from all walks of life, many like the character in your game, whom have never ever said they were happy in their situations. If you’re able to really get onboard with these people and strip all the pride back, unravel what’s really going down and get to the nitty gritty, you’ll find yourself truly giving a damn about your fellow human, and in many cases realise that even the most physically able person cannot pick their self up or get out of that situation because of the mental game.

I implore anyone to go sit outside on a busy street and hold a cup out hoping someone will toss them a few coins, especially the developers. Make a small experimental video of this and attach it with your game content clips and pics. Show your true intentions.

Maybe spend a few nights sleeping rough and going without food and water. Post that footage too. Know what im saying? Make an impact guys.

Just to add that I’m not offended or anything like that. I’ve played plenty controversial games and I will check this one out too to see if there is any true intentions here. But I just detect some BS in all of this. It’s a very interesting topic, and the surface has not even been scratched.

Actually it doesn't.

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/bum

Slang isn't a real definition of a word.

[Lechuck's Beard]

Yeah, we can split hairs all day with what is in a dictionary, mate. Anyone can Google. Things don't need to be defined or in black in white for the entire English speaking population to know what's up, regardless of the words or slang.

Go ask a 'bum' for their definition. That's the real one.